At the chalkface: Dark Star

Big Wigs and the prime minister were quick with self-aggrandizing sound-bites about David Bowie’s death. They droned on about the fabulous changes he brought to diversity, equality, and especially gender politics.

“We’ll never be the same again,” observed white, middle class, privileged, pompous, privately educated blokes in grey suits and dull haircuts. I wish they’d just shut up. He was much more dark and dangerous. Let me take you back to the early 70s...

We’re in the inner city. I’m with my 4th. Taking registration. England is grim. The 60s dream has hit the buffers. We’ve got strikes, black-outs, three-day weeks, low pay, flares, mullets, Mogadon, amphetamine, solvent abuse, the National Front, virulent sexism, rampant homophobia and withering austerity. A very grey world indeed. Enter Courtney, a thin, tall boy, ballet flats, Ziggy hair, mixed race, very camp, and probably transvestite.